The Cannonball Courier
Winter 2014
2013 - The Year in Review
Looking Back at What is Moving Us Ahead
Anyone who was there will not forget our
first (but certainly not last) 5K Steel Run. The
$10,000+ garnered by the effort was a shot in the
arm for NORTA. It seemed like overnight the steel
companies, North Star BlueScope Steel of Delta and
Worthington Steel Industries that have been our
neighbors became working partners. Of course it
was not overnight. It was a cooperation that took a
lot of meeting and planning.
This has also been a year for the ‘tale of two
kiosks’. The Tallman Kiosk by the maintenance
building and the kiosk at Colton were both given a
boost toward completion. And, thanks to the gift
of several benches from Oak Openings Metropark
and the diligence of Tom Duvendack in retrieving
them, users of the trail can take a few moments to
stop and contemplate the beauty of the trail.
The
Tallman
kiosk was
prepared
for graphics.
A kiosk will
be installed at
Colton on
the south fork
of the trail.
Presentation of the check from North Star BlueScope
Steel to members of the NORTA board
After North Star BlueScope Steel and
Worthington Steel Industries resurfaced the trail
from Co. Rd. 6-3 to the maintenance building, Tom
Strigow went out and cleared the undergrowth
from the sides. The picture below shows one side
finished. You can imagine the effort involved in
completing the job. This is one of many places
on the trail that need ongoing attention and it is
amazing how much is accomplished by so few.
The cleared trail leads to one of our most
scenic spots, the Fraker Mill Bridge.
“Northwestern Ohio Rails-to-Trails Association, Inc. (NORTA) is a private nonprofit
volunteer organization, whose mission is to promote and steward the development and
maintenance of the Wabash Cannonball Trail for public recreational use.”
WANTED/NEEDED
• Air compressor (10-30 gallon) for truck, tractor and trailer tires and cleaning tractor and mower etc.
• Shop rags
• Hand cleaner such as Go-Joe
• Round Up herbicide (concentrate is best, and in five gallon is cheapest) for
grass control around signs, fences, buildings, etc.
• Cash donations - specify toward one of the above will be used for that purpose
• New members and volunteers
• Visit our website www.wabashcannonballtrail.org
• Like us on Facebook
Officers and Board members
Below you will find contact information for various board members. You may also contact us via our
website: www.wabashcannonballtrail.org. Phone: 419-822-4788 or 1-800-951-4788
President: Jay Budde ([email protected])
Vice President: Ed Snyder
Secretary: Bonnie Markley ([email protected])
Treasurer: Patti Gehring ([email protected])
Newsletter: Lucille Smith ([email protected])
Maintenance: Tom Duvendack, Sandy Mason,Tom Striggow ([email protected])
Edith Trowbridge
It’s just a long skinny park!
NORTHWESTERN OHIO RAILS-TO-TRAILS ASSOCIATION, INC. (NORTA)
Membership Form
Name(s)_____________________________________________________________________________
Home Phone _________________________Work Phone ________________________
Cell (Optional) _____________________________________
Address ________________________________________________Apt. _______
City ______________________________State __________Zip _________________
E-mail Address _______________________________________________________________________
Membership Categories:
____Senior/Student $10 ____Individual $15 ____Family $25
____ Patron $100 ____Business/Organization $50 ____Other $________
____Lifetime $1,000 Donation
Contributions are tax deductible
Annual Meeting Highlights
The annual meeting of the Northwestern
Ohio Rails-to-Trails Association, Inc. was held
at Rotary Park, Wauseon, Ohio, on October 17,
2013. Members and guests began assembling
about 5p.m., mingled and enjoyed light snacks
and drinks while a power point slide show of the
various projects from the previous year played.
An open buffet was prepared by caterers from
Swanton Health Care and Retirement Center. The
fare was delectable and received rave reviews. In
addition, NORTA board members provided many
luscious desserts.
NEW BUSINESS
President Jay Budde announced that an
anonymous donor has bestowed NORTA with a
most generous gift of $100,000 that will be used
exclusively for trail development and maintenance
in Williams County; specifically, the last mile of
trail to SR15 (see article on back page) and access
in West Unity from Wabash Park to Millcreek-West
Unity Local Schools.
Jay returned to the Power Point presentation,
showing photos of 2013 NORTA successes. Each
board member focused on one of the projects as
the photos of that project were shown:
Bridges of the Wabash Cannonball Trail
-Edith Trowbridge
Headquarters Building Renovation
-Tom Striggow
Delta Kiosk Completed -Lucille Smith
Savannah and Native Plant Gardens
-Sandy Mason
Surfacing Trail, Lot, Maintenance Bldg. & MetroParks material support -Tom Duvendack
North Star BlueScope Steel 5K Steel Run
-Jay Budde
August Workday – Co. Rd. 16, Williams Co.
-Bonnie Markley
Transfer of Wabash Cannonball Park to West
Unity & 5+ miles to City of Wauseon -Ed Snyder
Financial Report -Patti Gehring
WALT AWARD
Board member Ed Snyder explained the
significance of the Walt Award that has been given
over the years to individuals who have exhibited
outstanding dedication through their volunteer
efforts in developing and/or maintaining the
Wabash Cannonball Trail. The original recipients
for whom the honor is presented were the two
Walts--Walt Kruse and Walter Studebaker.
This year the honor went to a corporation,
rather than an individual. The first Corporate
Volunteer of the Year Award was presented to
North Star BlueScope Steel for planning and
carrying out the very successful first annual 5K
Steel Run from which NORTA reaped a $10,000
benefit in addition to the surfacing of the Trail
from SR109 to CR 6-3. Accepting the award for
North Star BlueScope Steel was Joel Hood, HSM
Team Leader, who stated that they have a new
committee chairman and are anticipating even
more support for the sponsorship funding of the
second annual 5K Steel Run. Hood also recognized
Jamie Mason, owner of Dave’s Running Shop, for
his invaluable assistance with the mechanics and
technical aspects of the race.
In addition to the Walt Award, Jay presented
Tom Duvendack with a Volunteer of the Year
award from
North Country
National
Scenic Trail for
Tom’s ongoing
volunteer work
in developing
the portion
of the Trail
certified by
NCNST.
Jay Budde awards Tom Duvendack.
SPEAKER
Following the meeting, Jay turned the floor
over to Mike Dundas who presented a slide show
of the background of the North
Country National Scenic Trail
and took viewers on a virtual
4,600 mile hike state-by-state
from New York to North Dakota.
The visuals were outstanding,
illustrating the vast variety of
plant and animal life as well
as trail users and volunteers at
work.
In closing, Linda Doyle gave
Mike Dundas
a brief presentation about the
presented a
imperiled monarch butterflies.
Linda offered guests milkweed
virtual hike.
seeds she had collected and
encouraged them to plant the seeds in suitable
areas to provide essential food and an egglaying environment for the monarch butterfly
larvae. Table decorations for the meeting/dinner
were crafted by Linda and featured the monarch
butterfly.
“Last Mile” Project Planned for 2014
For all of the time the Wabash Cannonball trail has been
in existence (since 1994), the western terminus of the trail
has been just west of State Route 15 – the right end of the red
circled area above. NORTA acquired a 30-foot easement or
right to use the railroad property, which is one mile in length,
to extend the trail in the future. NORTA’s goal for many years
has been to improve this section of the trail. We worked to
clear sections of this mile, but were not positioned to improve
the easement as an extension of the trail until now. Thanks to
a generous anonymous gift to NORTA in 2013, we are now
able to proceed with developing this section of the Wabash
Cannonball Trail.
This is exciting for us, but it will require significant work
and coordination with the local municipality of Montpelier
and the Williams County Commissioners and Park Board.
Conversations were held in late 2013 to gather information and
Northwestern Ohio Rails-to-Trails Assoc. Inc.
P.O. Box 234
Delta, OH 43515
1-800-951-4788
www.wabashcannonballtrail.org
do preliminary reconnaissance. A topographic plan is being
prepared to identify the trail alignment on aerial photos.
A new trailhead at the intersection of Williams County
Road 13 and the new trail endpoint will provide easy access for
residents of Montpelier
and surrounding
communities. The
preliminary plans are
for a fine aggregate
trail surface for biking,
hiking, skiing and
horseback riding.
NORTA is applying
for Ohio Department
of Natural Resources
funding to help with the cost of the planned improvements.
Look for updates in future newsletters.